Occupant propelled merry-go-round



Aug. 31, 1965 F. D. PARKER OCCUPANT PROPELLED MERRY-GO-ROUND 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 15, 1963 Aug. 31, 1965 F. D. PARKER OCGUPANI' PROPELLED MERRY-GO-ROUND 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 15, 1963 FFNE Y INVENTOR. 56a [7- l af/fer United States Patent.

3,203,695 OCCUPANT PRGPELLED MERRY-GO-RGUND Fred 1). Parker, Alcester, S. Dale, assignor of one-fourth each to I. T. Kehn, Calvin H. Kehn, and Earl H. Waltner, all of Bridgewater, S. Dak.

Filed Apr. 15, 1963, Ser. No. 272,897 2 Claims. (Cl. 272-33) My invention relates to an exercising device.

An object of my invention is to provide an exerising device which is interesting, amusing and still provides the very important function of body building.

A further object of my invention is to provide an exercising device in the form of a rotating arrangement which will somewhat simulate a merry-go-round and wherein the movement of the children or adult bodies on the horses will cause the arrangement to rotate on a track.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device which is rigid in construction and can be used in practically any environment.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of my device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the arrangement,

FIGURE 2 is a forward elevation of a portion of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of a portion of FIG- URE 1,

FIGURE 4 is a sectional detail of the sprocket drive arrangement, and

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view of FIGURE 4 taken substantially along the lines 5-5 thereof.

My invention contemplates the provision of a rotating exercising device whereby the operators or occupants of the device will exercise to cause rotation thereof, thereby deriving beneficial effects from the same and the like.

In describing my invention, I have used the character to designate angle iron members spaced apart as shown and which are secured to the short vertical pipes 11 to which pipes are attached the suction cup 12 (see FIGURE 3) so that the arrangement can be placed on a fiat surface such as 13 and securely held.

Suitably secured as at 14 to the inner terminal of the members 10 is a vertically positioned pipe 15 in which is received a short shaft 16 which is attached to the centrally positioned member 17 which rests upon a thrust bearing 18 which thrust bearing rests on the top of the pipe 15. Extending from the member 17 are the radially positioned bars 19 terminating at 20, and also terminating at 20' are the further bars 21 which pass through the lengthened cylindrical pipes 22, and attached at 23 to the pipe 22 are the upwardly and angularly projecting braces 24 which support the upper tubes or pipes 25.

Attached at 26 to the pipes or tubes 22 are the downwardly converging support rods 27 terminating at 28, and suitably secured at this point are the bearings 29 which receive the short shafts 30 to which shafts are attached to the lower sprockets 31 over which the sprockets pass the sprocket chains 32.

The character 33 indicates suitable wheels attached to the shafts 30 and which wheels will rest upon the circular track 34 having the flange 35, which track is suitably secured to the members 10. Also attached to the circularly positioned member 17 are the angularly positioned brace bars 36, which are adapted to further sup- 3,203,695 Patented Aug. 31, 1965 The character 36a designates furbe attached to the rods 27 port the shaft 30. ther bracing bars which can to provide further rigidity.

It should be specifically understood that if desired, the various joints at 20, 14, etc., could be bolted together whereby the entire assemblage could be taken apart for shipping purposes and the like, and also the same applying to the circular track 34.

The character 37 indicates further shafts received within the tubular members 25, and attached to the shafts 37 are the horizontally positioned bars 38 to which are attached the rods 39, these rods 39 being received within suitable openings provided in the horse figures 40, and if desired, suitable stirrups can be attached at the termination of the rods 39 and an extra lengthened rod 41 could be used in the horse figures for children having longer legs, etc.

The sprocket chains 32 pass over further sprockets 42 which sprockets are attached to the annular housings 43 having the ratchet teeth 44 arranged therein, and secured to the inner terminal of the shafts 37 are the collars 45 to which are pivoted the pawls 46 which are spring urged by means of the springs 47.

The device operates in the following manner. The children or adults will be seated upon the horse 40, and by rocking back and forth on the horse will also cause the rods 39 to rock the shafts 37. This rocking action will cause the pawls 46 to engage the ratchet teeth 44 in one direction only, so that in effect, the sprocket housing 43 will be rotated in the direction of the arrow 48 which will also drive the sprocket chain 32 to thereby rotate the wheels 33 which will roll along the circular track 34, and as a result, the desired action will take place. More vigorous action will cause the unit to rotate more rapidly, etc., and the resultant action is beneficial. The arrangement can be used by adults and children alike.

The central tube 15 etc., provides for a completely rigid structure which rotates about its central axis smoothly and uniformly.

It will now be noted that I have provided the various advantages mentioned in the objects of my invention with further advantages being apparent.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my invention without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. An exercising device comprising a substantially circular track-way, wheels mounted on said track-way, a framework supported on said wheels, said framework including simulated horses mounted thereon for rocking action, means positioned between said simulated horses and said wheels for rotating said wheels whereby said wheels will travel along said track-way, said means including lengthened tubes for providing bearings, shafts received in said tubes, sprockets attached at the inner terminals of said shafts, sprocket chains passing over said sprockets, further sprockets attached to said wheels over which said sprocket chains pass for driving said wheels, ratchet members secured to said sprockets, pawls attached to said shafts for engaging said ratchet members for driving said ratchet and said wheels in one direction.

2. An exercising device comprising a substantially circular track-way, wheels mounted on said track-way, a framework supported on said wheels, said framework including simulated horses mounted thereon for rocking action, means positioned between said simulated horses La and said wheels for rotating said wheels whereby said Wheels will travel along said track-way, said means including lengthened tubes for providing bearings, shafts received in said tubes, sprockets attached at the inner terminals of said shafts, sprocket chains passing over said sprockets, further sprockets attached to said wheels over which said sprocket chains pass for driving said wheels, ratchet members secured to said sprockets, pawls attached to said shafts for engaging said ratchet members a, horizontally positioned bars attached at the outer ends of said shafts, rods attached to said bars, said simulated horses having openings receiving said bars.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 831,161 9/06 Hess 27233 1,325,374 12/19 Pilushczak 27233 for driving said ratchet and said wheels in one direction, 10 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN EXEERCISING DEVICE COMPRISINGA SUBSTANTIALLY CIRCULAR TRACK-WAY, WHEELS MOUNTED ON SAID TRACK-WAY, A FRAMEWORK SUPPORTED ON SAID WHEELS, SAID FRAMEWORK INCLUDING SIMULATED HORSES MOUNTED THEREON FOR ROCKING ACTION, MEANS POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID SIMULATED HORSES AND SAID WHEELS FOR ROTATING SAID WHEELS WHEREBY SAID WHEELS WILL TRAVEL ALONG SAID TRACK-WAY, SAID MEANS INCLUDING LENGTHENED TUBES FOR PROVIDING BEARINGS, SHAFTS RECEIVED IN SAID TUBES, SPROCKETS ATTACHED AT THE INNER TERMINALS OF SAID SHAFTS, SPROCKET CHAINS PASSING OVER SAID SPROCKETS, FURTHER SPROCKETS ATTACHED TO SAID WHEELS OVER WHICH SAID SPROCKET CHAINS PASS FOR DRIVING SAID WHEELS, RATCHET MEMBERS SECURED TO SAID SPROCKETS, PAWLS ATTACHED TO SAID SHAFTS FOR ENGAGING SAID RATCHET MEMBERS FOR DRIVING SAID RATCHET AND SAID WHEELS IN ONE DIRECTION. 